Entertainment in Burnley

I’ve already touched on this in the form of The Mechanics. But let’s have a look at what else Burnley has to offer in the entertainment section.

Burnley Apollo Cinema.

Burnley’s only cinema is the Apolla, a large neon wrapped cinema and a short walk from the town centre. The cinema is very popular and shows all the main and some of the bigger indie movies. As you’d expect from such a large chain the food prices are high and the cinema is clean. For a prime time showing of the bigger films I recommend you reserve tickets and check screening times via their website.

Turf Moor.

The home of Burnley football club, host to some fantastic moments in the town’s history, a really special place you should visit.

As you can probably tell I am a supporter of the club. If you are a fan of football and a neutral of any sorts then this can be a fun family day out, fans are friendly and staff always helpful. If you’re bringing the family along I recommend you get seats in the Jimmy Mcilroy stand, known to supporters as ‘The family stand’ so you get the idea, it’s the place in the ground where your children will be safest from the people who swear and shout a lot, it’s a positive atmosphere full of friendly families. Prices vary dependent on the game but for price lists and home fixtures please have a look here. I spoke to life long Burnley support and family man Joe about a day out at Turf Moor!

 

 

Burnley Cricket Club.

If you’re coming in the summer months and are looking to watch some sport then I have found your paradise. Burnley Cricket Club play the traditional cricket season (mid April to mid September) and welcome people to simply walk off the street and watch the professionals free of charge, but it would be nice if you bought a drink or two form the bar below the stand.

Backing onto Turf Moor parking for the cricket field is easy with spaces around the field itself available, or if you’re a little worried about the batsman being good enough to hit your car, then parking on the surrounding streets is always available. For more information including upcoming fixtures please visit the Burnley Cricket Club website.

 

 

1st Bowling Burnley.

Burnley has a bowling alley! As you’d expect this is fantastic family fun, regardless of the weather bowling is something all the family can play together. With pool table, mini arcade and bar which serves food & drink this really is the complete experience. It can get busy on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday after 7PM being a popular place for young people just before their night on the town so i’d recommend getting there around 4 o’clock on the afore-mentioned days. Prices are typical with a family of four paying £18 for a game but for a more detailed price list look at their website.

The town Centre

For a small former mill town Burnley is very good when it comes to shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants.

Let’s start with the important one. shopping! Most of the major chain stores such as River Island, Topshop and Toy Master. so, mum, dad, the young ones and even the teens can be entertained with shopping delight.

When it comes to midday and everyone is a little parched the mass of chain cafes such as Rhode Island and Costa are available but Burnley is abundant with traditional Family run cafes such as Brambles tearooms.

The town centre also has the market, which is lovely! all kinds of food sorts, clothing, flowers and even haircuts but the market shall be investigated in greater depth at another time.

The Centre isn’t without its attractions either with the town hall and Mechanics Theatre, I’ll go into detail on the Mechanics in later posts but for now, the Town hall, large, magnificent, the hub of the town, built in 1855 it’s beautiful, tall, grand and where all the important decisions are made by the council. The architectures doesn’t stop here it, just walk around the centre for a while, look up, and you’ll notice some magnificent vintage architecture from the post office to the towering  remains of mills. 

Long stay parking isn’t an issue, with two level car parks and one multi story, prices are cheaper than most large towns and cities and of £5.50 you can park all day on the more expensive car parks such as the multi story.

Shops and cafes are typically open till 5 Monday-Friday with clubs, pubs and restaurants open till very late, but I shall touch on them in later posts, this little piece is just to give a brief overview on what to expect from Burnley town centre.

Burnley – What we’ll be looking at

Welcome to our blog, I say our blog because I want us to share it, you can’t write, edit or contribute in any manner, but it is still ours.

As you’ve probably already guessed via the blog title, this will be centred around the rather glorious, bright, happy, slightly falling down, northern town of Burnley. A place where I have lived all my life, much has changed in what has been my brief stint of this earth, yet not much in this town has, it is still the hilly, pigeon infested, wet almost all the time place, it was when I was just a child, frolicking through Townley park in nothing but my red wellington boots and obsession with Barney the dinosaur.

Now you may be an outsider to my town, you may even be from the south! But I very much doubt this, I am fully aware that the interest in my little town will only go as far as Lancaster, and that’s at an optimistic push. However, I will endeavour to bring us all the fantastic sights and sounds of this pokey Lancashire town.

I’ll be galloping through everything my home town has to offer including the hills, the views, the rather magnificent canals, the fantastic walks, parks and places to park you car, the football club, the past glory of our cotton industry, the architecture (or what remains of it) the buses, the trains, the houses, the things to do, the things to eat and of course, the ever-lovely, slightly volatile, people!

In case you didn’t know, which many of you won’t, Burnley is here.

Yep, it’s just far away from all the major places to be considered an average town, but that’s part its charm, this completely ordinary, low income, chav ridden town looks as average and inconspicuous as the next, but that’s part of the charm. Think of all the oceans in the world; look exactly the same, right? but once you dive in and have a look around, they’re all as spell binding as the next.

If you would like any further information on the town or specific aspects then please don’t hesitate to contact me via: p.f.ghayour@gmail.com